Organ-action



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. CLARK.

QRGAN AGTI'ON. No. 439,111. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

Ill,

iff-W l 4 Sheets--Sheet 2. M. CLARK.

ORGAN ACTION.

(No Model.)

-Hill/IIIA 1L 20 WW (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen a. M. CLARK.

ORGANK'AGTION.

No. 439,111- Patented 0011.28, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet v4.

M. CLARK.

ORGAN ACTION.

110.439,111. Patented 0011.28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ORGAN-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,11 1, dated October 28, 1890.

Application led April 22, 1889. Seal No. 308.216. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.j

Be it known that I, MELVILLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Organ-Action, which is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates particularly to the action of an organ having pedal-keys for 0perating a certain set of reeds.

In the drawings, Figure l is a Vertical section through an organ, showing the several parts which constitute my invention in position such that the manual-reeds are not operated by the pedal-keys. Fig. 2 isa similar section showing the parts in such position that the pedal-keys operate the manual-reeds as well as the pedal-reeds. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the action. Fig. 4 is a detail section through the action at the line 4 et on Fig. 3, omitting all parts except those which relate to the manual-coupling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5 5 on Fig. 3, showing only the parts which relate to the pedal-coupling mechanism. Fig. 6 is alongi-. tudinal section at the line G G on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an end view of the same part shown in Fig. 6. Fig. S is a sectional detail elevation of the pedal-key-lever valve-rod, showing means for adjusting its length. Fig. 9 is a detail plan of mechanism by which the fulcrum of the levers which connect the pedal and manual-action is shifted.

The drawings represent an organ having four sets of reeds arranged in a single block controlled by two sets of valves, each valve of each set controlling a reed in each of two of the sets of reeds, and two sets of reeds being subject to the action of one swell, and the other two to the action of another swell, each set of reeds being separately controlled by a mute, the construction in all these respects being the usual one. There is also shown a set of sub-bass reeds in a separate block, wherein the reeds are arranged vertically on account of their size, and are controlled each by a valve, the entire set being further controlled by a mute and subject to the action of a swell in the usual manner.

Referring to the parts by letter, A represents the organ-case; B, the bellows.v

C is the bellowsoperating lever; C', the strap connecting the lever to the bellows.

D is the action base-plate, which forms also the bottom of the valve-chamber E, which is peripherally bounded and closed by the sides and ends E', and has the top plate F, upon which are support-ed the blocks G and N, in which are formed the reed-chambers, and upon which are supported the several parts to which the swells are connected. Through the top plate F are formed the valve-openings F F, closed by the valves F2 F20, which are provided with the usual springs f2 f20, retaining the valves on their seats.

G g are reeds of two sets of recdslocated on one side of the block G.

G2 g2 are reeds of two sets of reeds similarly located on the opposite side of the block.

H 71, are mutes, which control, respectively, the sets of reeds represented by G and g.

I-IJi are mutes, which control, respectively, the sets of reeds represented by the reeds G2 and g2.

I I2 are swells, which affect, respectively, the sets of reeds on the opposite sides of the block G.

L represents the lower bank of keys of the manual, and L represents the upper bank.

K and K represent, respectively, the pushrods from the keys L and L to their respective valves f2 and f20. The usual stop mechanism is provided (but is not herein shown because not specifically a part of this invention) for operating thel several mutes to either stop or permit the action of the several sets of reeds, as desired.

The action as thus far described is the customary one. To the side E of the valvechamber E there is hinged the lip or broad lever R, to the free edge of which at r are pivoted the levers S, one foreach of the valves F2, and located underneath said valves respectively. The other end of each of the levers S opposite that at which it is pivoted to the lip R is connected to the valve F20, corresponding to the valve F2 under which said lever is located. The connection illustrated is made by means of a bracket d., fastened to the valve FJ0 almost directly underneath the IOO point at which the push-,rod K engages the said valve on the upper side, and that bracket which is bent horizontally at the lower end receives and supports in said horizontal portion the end of the lever S. From each of the levers S there projects upward a stud S', which receives the contact of the valve F2 when the parts are in proper position, as will be hereinafter explained. Such position is illustrated in Fig. 2, and depends upon the position of the lip R, which, for the purpose of adjustment, has at one end the short arm R projecting from its free edge near the end of the valve-chamber. To the valve-chamber wall there is pivoted the lever T, two small brackets T projecting downward from the top plate of the chamber in order to afford pivotal support for said lever. One end of this lever projects underneath the arm R of the lip R, and thereby upholds said lip, while the other end is exposed to the action of a crank-rod U, which is pivoted to the top plate of the chamber,having its crank-arm U acting upon thelever F. When the crank-rod U is rocked to throw its crank U downward, such movement depresses the end of the lever T, which said crank operates, lifting the other end, and thereby lifting the free edge of the lip R, bringing said lip into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the lip R holds the levers S, which are attached to its free end up in the position shown in said Fig. 2, wherein the stud S contacts ythe underside of the valve F2 when said valve is on its seat. It will be obvious that when the key which operates said valve is depressed and the valve forced off its seat by downward movement it will in that movement force downward they lever S, whose forward end is fixed at its pivotal connection with the lip R, so that its rear end, which rest-s on the bracket a, will experience the full downward movement, and in and by th at movement will pull down the valve F20, which in the absence of such coupling device would be subject only to the action of the key L. By this means the keys in the lower bank can be made to operate any of the reeds which ordinarily are subject only to the action ot the keys in the upper bank, and by opening all the mutes H, h, H and h', each key in the lower bank may operate all four of the reeds G g G2 g2, and by closing one or more of the mutes the tone may be limited to one or a combination of one or more of said reeds at will. Thus the lower bank of keys may be made to produce tones from only the reeds,

which are ordinarily operated by the upper bank to the exclusion of the reeds directly pertaining to the lower bank, if desired.

I will now describe the mechanism pertaining to the pedal-keys and their coupling with the man ual-action.

Q Q are the pedal-keys, which act upon vlevers P, which are connected by rods O to the valves N2, which control the sub-bass reeds N', having their chambers, respectively, in

the block N, and being further controlled by into the upper end of the lower portion of the rod O, which is made of wood, and is provided with a stop O2 below the bottom of the valvechamber to limit the upward stroke of the rod under the operation of the pedal-keys. The hole in the bottom of the valve-chamber through which the portion O of the rod extends is considerably larger than the rod, to prevent friction and noise in the action. Over the row of these holes o there is secured a strip of leather or other similar flexible and non-resonant substance O2, which is pierced with holes, through which the wire portion O of the rods passes, fitting closely. Upon the rodthat is, upon the wire portion O above the bottom of the valve-chamber-there is made fast a stop O3 in such position that it rests upon the upper surface of the valvechamber bottom, contacting at that point the leather strip O2 above mentioned, when the valve N3 is on its seat, with the upper end of the rod N4 contacting its under surface', but not upholding it. To each of the valves F2 there is secured a downwardlyprojecting screw-eye b, for which an aperture is made in the lever S, so that it may project downward through it. In the eye b', which stands below the lever S, there is received one end of the lever V, the other end of which stands closely adjacent to the rod O O', and preferably is forked at the end, so that it embraces the rod, and is thereby kept adjacent to it. A fulcrurn for these levers is provided in the following manner: To the top plate F of the valve-chamber there is secured the downwardly-projecting bracket W', to the lower end of which is hinged the lip or broad lever W, at the free end of which the levers V are pivoted. A convenient mode of pivoting the levers and forming their fulcrum is that illustrated, which consists of a bar V2, perforated to allow the levers to be inserted through it, the apertures being V-shaped both above and below, so that the levers resting upon the angles thus Aformed are provided with an accurate fulcrum, and at the same time have capacity for longitudinal movement through the bar, slight movement of that nature being requisite to that action, as will hereinafter appear. plate F, acting upon the lever W, tending to uphold it in the position shown in Fig. l, wherein it is stopped upwardly by contact with the block X, which also aords means of holding the springs f20. To prevent any Springs C C are secured to the IOO IIO

nant sheet 0;. On the under surface of the upper plate F of the valve-chamber there is journaled the cranked rock-shaft Y, having several cranked portions Y', which bear upon the upper surface of the lip when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. l, said cranked portions being long enough so `that when the shaft is rocked in its bearings to throw said cranks downward they will force the lever W down into the position shown in Fig. 2. In the first position (shown in Fig. l) the rear forked end V3 of the lever V stands out of range of the vertical action of the stop O2 on the pedal-key-lever rod, and when the lever WV occupies this position the action of the pedal-keys will produce no action of any of the manual-reeds, but only of the pedal-reeds N3. When, however, the lever WV is forced into the position shown in Fig. 2, the end Vs of the lever V rests on the stop O2. Vhen the latter is in its lowest position7 and when these parts are in this position, the operation of the pedal-keys forcing upward their rods respectively, will carry up with them, by means of the stops O2, the rear end of the levers V, and thereby depressing the forward end of said levers will, by means of the screw-eyes b, cause the levers to pull down the valves F2. It', now, the lip R is in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the levers S operate as a coupling between the valves F2 and F20, the action described opening` the valves F2 will also open the valves F20, and therebyT bring into action so many of the reeds contained in the block` G and pertaining to the manualkeys as are not stopped by their respective mutes, thus permitting the combinations with the pedal-reeds operated by the pedal-keys ot any one, two, or three, or all of the reeds G g G2 g2.

Animportant merit of the construction employed as above described is the simplicity of the mechanism of the pedal-bass action, which results from extending directly from the pedal-levers to the valves which control the pedal-reeds the valve-actuating rods O. In order that these rods may extend thus directly from the levers to the valves and constitute the sole mechanical element in the action between the levers and the valves, these rods must pass through the valve-chamber or wind-chest E, and in order that this construction may not diminish the effectiveness of the wind-chest by making it leak the use of the packing-strips O2 is desirable, and in order that the rods passing through this strip, and fitting so closely therein as to prevent leakage around them, may not be too much hindered in their action by the same, the reduction ot the diameter of the rod at the part that passes through the packing-strip is also desirable. In order that the friction of the wire portion O of the rod O where it passes the leather may not in any event prevent the valves closing properly, I provide the springs NS, which are suit-ably secured at one end in the guide-barns, and at the other end are connected, respectively, to the rods O', tending to depress the rods as soon as they are relieved from the control of the pedal-keys.

By means ot' my construction of the pedalaction I am able to avoid all openings through the swell N5, which are necessary when the valves are operated by mechanism which reaches them without passing through the wind-chest, and by thus preserving the swell without mutilation the accurate voicing of the pedal-bass which otherwise is impossible is made possible.

l. In an organ-action, in combination with the manual-keys and the reed-valves which they respectively operate, the pedal-key levers, the pedal-lever rods, and the valves of the pedal-bass which they respectively operate, a system of levers which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are also operated by the manualkeys and at the other end stand adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the adjacent levers when the rods are moved to open their respective valves, substantially as set forth.

2. In an organ-action, in combination with the manual-keys and the reed-valves which they respectively operate, the pedal-key levers, the pedal-lever rods, and the valves of the pedal-bass which they respectively operate, a system oflevers which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are also operated by the manualkeys and at the other end stand adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the adjacent levers, respectively, said levers having a tnlcrum movable a sntlicient distance to carry the ends of the levers which are adjacent to the pedalkey-lever rods out of range of the stops on said rods, respectively, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the manual-keys and the valves which they directly operate, coupling mechanism and the Valves which the directly-actuated valves operate through such coupling mechanism, the pedal-key lcvers and the rods by which they operate their valves, respectively, and a system of levers which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are directly actuated by the manual-keys and at the other end stand adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the adjacent levers, respectively, when the rods are moved to open their valves, respectively, substantially as set forth.

Ll. In an organ-action, in combination with the manual-keys and the valves which they directly operate, coupling mechanism and the valves which the directly-actuated valves operate through such coupling mechanism, the pedal-key levers and the rods by which they operate their valves, respectively, a system of levers which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are di- IIO rectly actuated by the manual-keys, said levers at the other end standing adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the adjacent levers, respectively, said levers having a fulcrum movable sufticient distance to carry the ends of the levers adjacent to the pedal-key-lever rods out of range of the stops on said rods, respectively, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the manual-keys, valves which directly and indirectly operate the several sets of reeds which said valves control, the mutes pertaining to said sets of reeds, respectively, and a system of levers which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are also operated by the manual-keys and at the other end stand adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the adjacent levers when the rods are moved to open their respective valves, whereby the pedalkeys may be made to operate at will corresponding reeds in any one or more of the sets which pertain to the manUaLkeys, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination With the manual-keys, valves which directly and indirectly operate the several sets of reeds which said valves control, the mutes pertaining to said setsV of reeds, respectively, and a system of levers 3o which at one end connect with and are adapted to operate the valves which are also operated by the manual-keys and at the other end stand adjacent to the pedal-lever rods, said rods having stops adapted to engage the ad- 3 5 jacent levers, respectively, said levers having a fulcrum movable a suicient distance to carry the end of the levers which is adjacent to the pedal-key-lever rods out of range of the stops on said rods, respectively, substantially 4o as set forth.

'7. In an organ-action, in combination with the valveswhich pertain to the reeds operated by the manual-keys, the wind-chest or valvechamber in which said valves are contained, the valves pertaining to the pedal-reeds, and the rods which actuate said valves extending through said Wind-chest, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5o my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of March, 1889.

MELVILLE CLARK.

ylllitnesses:

CHAs. S. BURTON, JEAN ELLIOTT. 

